Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $478 per month in Isfahan vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $831 per month in Isfahan vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,185 per month in Isfahan vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Isfahan is about 62% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Isfahan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Isfahan 64% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.91 $2.91

$11.99 MX$210

-75.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.98 $10.98

$41.78 MX$733

-73.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.98 $2.98

$10.75 MX$189

-72.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 $0.97

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

Cappuccino

$0.83 $0.83

$3.50 MX$61.3

-76.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

$1.45 MX$25.41

-64.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.88 MX$15.52

5.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 $0.56

$1.43 MX$25.12

-60.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 $0.43

$1.84 MX$32.23

-76.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.57 MX$27.51

38.85%

Eggs

$1.53 $1.53

$2.51 MX$44.06

-39.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$8.28 MX$145

-66.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$8.43 MX$148

-64.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.93 $9.93

$10.68 MX$187

-7.02%

Apples (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$2.61 MX$45.76

-75.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.44 MX$25.22

-5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.96 MX$34.41

-48.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$2.09 MX$36.74

-73.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 $0.60

$1.85 MX$32.47

-67.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$2.17 MX$38.02

-76.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 $0.55

$1.03 MX$18.09

-46.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 $0.21

$1.07 MX$18.84

-80.37%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.51 $0.51

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 $0.54

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 $2.06

$4.10 MX$72.0

-49.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.51 MX$8.93

-39.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.28 $13.28

$26.04 MX$457

-49.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 $0.51

$3.23 MX$56.7

-84.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$2.41 MX$42.19

-87.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 $1.99

$3.23 MX$56.6

-38.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.32 MX$23.17

-35.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$67.1K $67.1K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

125.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$58.4K $58.4K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

146.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$14.77 $14.77

$82.0 MX$1,439

-81.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$1.84 $1.84

$22.95 MX$403

-91.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.72 $7.72

$30.11 MX$528

-74.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.71 $13.71

$52.0 MX$912

-73.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.56 $10.56

$18.53 MX$325

-43.01%

Cinema Ticket

$1.12 $1.12

$4.98 MX$87.3

-77.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$71.9 $71.9

$197 MX$3,463

-63.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$586 $586

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-89.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.19 $18.19

$35.60 MX$624

-48.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.89 $23.89

$40.33 MX$707

-40.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$78.8 MX$1,381

7.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.92 $36.92

$88.9 MX$1,560

-58.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 $288

$947 MX$16.6K

-69.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 $197

$474 MX$8,314

-58.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$901 $901

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-45.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 $522

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-56.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,195 $1,195

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-70.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$723 $723

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-88.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$209 $209

$654 MX$11.5K

-67.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.86

11.42

135.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Isfahan: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $288 in Isfahan versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 212% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Isfahan versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $249 – making Isfahan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Isfahan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 163% more than Isfahan, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $716 per month in Isfahan and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Isfahan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Isfahan and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $478 in Isfahan and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Isfahan, where all-in costs run around $478, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Isfahan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Isfahan costs $478 versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Isfahan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.